The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress, (TUC), the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) and the Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL) have condemned the decision of the leadership of the House of Representatives to purchase 360 exotic cars worth N3.6 billon for its members when the nation is going through economic recession, describing it as a sign of insensitivity to the plight of Nigerians.

According to CEOAfrica’s source, the Punch, the General Secretary of the NLC, Dr Peter Ozo-Eson, described the action of the lawmakers as unfortunate, insensitive and unacceptable, adding that it was inappropriate for the lawmakers to commit scarce resources to the purchase of expensive cars in the midst of rising hardship and unemployment in the country.

In a similar vein, the TUC condemned the expensive lifestyle of the lawmakers and members of the political class. The President of TUC, Mr Bala Kaigama and the Acting Secretary General of TUC, Mr Simeso Amachree, said that the ostentatious lifestyle of the lawmakers and the politicians was hindering the nation’s development.

Also reacting to the action of the lawmakers, the Executive Director of CLO, Mr. Ibuchukwu Ezike, said it was such display of insensitivity by Nigerian leaders that had made the country the target of ridicule around the world. He said “It is not today that we have begun to see the insensitivity of the leaders of this country and that was captured in the statement by the former British Prime Minister, David Cameron, saying that Nigeria is fantastically corrupt and when recently Donald Trump made his own statement about Nigeria.”

Furthermore, the Executive Chairman, CACOL, Mr. Debo Adeniran, described the action of the lawmakers as a display of unreasonable opulence in a country with majority of poor people. A Lagos-based human rights lawyer, Mr. Fred Agbaje, also condemned the lawmakers, saying their action had justified the call to retain lawmakers only on a part-time basis.

The NLC called on the leadership of the National Assembly to stop the deal which he said was not too late.